Joe Paul Gonzales is an accountant who not only thinks in spread
sheets and dollar figures, but is constantly planning for the
future. Gonzales, who so far is the sole candidate for San Benito
County Clerk-Auditor-Recorder John Hodges’ position which he will
be vacating this year, has been eyeing the long-time clerk’s
position for awhile now.
Hollister – Joe Paul Gonzales is an accountant who not only thinks in spread sheets and dollar figures, but is constantly planning for the future. Gonzales, who so far is the sole candidate for San Benito County Clerk-Auditor-Recorder John Hodges’ position which he will be vacating this year, has been eyeing the long-time clerk’s position for awhile now.
Gonzales, 48, announced that he would run for the position last week after Hodges announced that he will not seek another term. Gonzales has worked in the county auditor’s office for about five years and is currently an accounting manager, overseeing the county’s accountants who take care of all the county departments’ finances.
“When I started working here at the office, I wanted to learn as much as I could just so I could master the job,” he said. “Some time ago, John (Hodges) had mentioned that I should be preparing myself to take over his job. I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can. I had a good mentor in (Finance Director) Dan Vrtis.”
Gonzales believes it is important that there be an orderly transition when Hodges, who was county clerk-auditor-recorder for more than two decades, leaves the post. He also wants to continue to improve customer service in those departments.
“Coming from a real customer service viewpoint, I think it’s important that government be open, accessible and responsive to the taxpayer,” he said.
Hodges, whose term ends at the close of 2006, said that he believes Gonzales is a fine candidate to pick up where he will leave off.
“He’s a good man. He’s a people person. He’s gone through the ranks and worked his way up to supervising accountants,” he said. “He’s not a greenhorn. If he were elected, he’d do a good job.”
Gonzales said Hodges has excelled in increasing customer service in the county clerk’s office, and he would want to continue that trend.
“There’s always, always room for improvement,” Gonzales said. “There’s no such thing as perfection, only trying to attain it. We should provide the highest level of service to the taxpayer.”
Gonzales also said he is eager to shepherd the clerk, auditor and registrar offices through some major technological changes.
“Our property tax system is in dire need of being converted to a newer system,” he said. “It’s now very limiting.”
While manning a campaign isn’t for the weak of heart, the challenge isn’t a foreign one to Gonzales – who served on the Hollister City Council from 1986 to 1990 and was Hollister’s mayor in 1987.
Other candidates looking to run for the position have until March 10 to pull papers, but if no one else enters the race by then Gonzales will automatically land the job, Hodges said. He will receive an annual salary of about $102,000.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
